Hunter
11/10/24
An appearance by a conservative commentator planned for Monday at the University of Iowa has been met with vandalism and planned protests.
The Daily Iowan reports the head of the UI Young Americans for Freedom student group discovered that someone wrote “fascist” on the banner promoting Michael Knowles’ appearance. Knowles joined the conservative media company The Daily Wire in 2016. He has 1.1 million followers on X, including Iowa governor Kim Reynolds.
The student paper says he’s been outspoken against LGTBQ ideology, defended the Crusades and colonization, and mocked climate activist Greta Thunberg. He plans to take questions from the audience after giving a speech Monday at the Iowa Memorial Union he’s titled, “The Long National Nightmare.”
Students have allegedly been removing fliers about the event, as well as writing on some of the banners and posters promoting Knowles’ appearance.
A protest is planned for 6:30pm Monday at Hubbard Park, adjacent to the IMU. A flier promoting the protest encourages community members to, quote, “show up for your trans community members. Meet transphobia with resistance!”